EMERGENCY SURGERY

Examples of common emergency general surgical conditions:

Some examples of conditions that may require emergency general surgery include:

• Appendicitis: An infection in the appendix that requires removal (appendicectomy)

• Acute Cholecystitis/Gallbladder Disease: Severe pain, infection, or inflammation caused by gallstones, requiring removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy)

• Small & Large Bowel Obstruction: A blockage in the intestines (due to a variety of reasons) that may need surgical intervention to relieve or remove the obstruction

• Bowel perforation: Bowel perforations occur due to a number of reasons (including trauma, tumours, bowel obstructions, previous surgery, diverticulitis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, to name a few). A bowel perforation is a serious, life threatening condition in which emergency general surgery is crucial to save one's life 

• Trauma: Dr. Matthew Stokes works at The Alfred, Australia’s largest Trauma Centre, participating in the on call roster for Emergency General Surgery & Trauma Surgery, where he treats serious injuries from accidents, falls, or violence that require surgery to repair internal damage including organ injuries

• Perforated Ulcers: A hole in the stomach or intestine that can lead to serious infection and requires immediate surgical repair

• Infections: Severe infections in the abdomen, such as peritonitis (from a variety of causes), that require drainage or surgical intervention

• Skin infections, abscesses

• Diverticulitis: Including complicated disease including abscesses, contained and uncontained perforations necessitating emergency, lifesaving surgery

• New cancer diagnosis

What to Expect During Emergency General Surgery

If you need emergency surgery, the process will move quickly. Here's a general overview of what you might expect:

1. Initial Assessment: Upon arriving at the hospital (to the Emergency Department or the Ward), you will receive a thorough evaluation by your surgeon. This will include history taking, a physical exam, blood tests, imaging scans (like X-rays or CT scans), and other diagnostics to determine the nature of the emergency

1. Anaesthesia: Before surgery begins, you will meet your anaesthetist who will speak to you about how they will administer anaesthesia to ensure you are comfortable and pain-free throughout the procedure. This can be either general anaesthesia (where you are fully asleep) or regional/local anaesthesia (where only the area being treated is numbed). A postoperative pain management plan will also be developed, specific to your situation. 

2. The Surgery: Your surgeon will perform the necessary procedure based on the condition requiring treatment. In some cases, this may be minimally invasive (laparoscopic surgery), involving small incisions and specialised, laparoscopic instruments.
   In other cases, open surgery may be needed. Your surgeon will take the time prior to the procedure, to fully discuss your condition and the available treatment options (including surgical options) with you and your family.

3. Post-Operative Care: After surgery, you will be monitored closely in a recovery room, then on the surgical ward or intensive care unit (ICU) if needed. You will be cared for by expert nursing staff and other health professionals, and be seen by your one of the surgeons from South East Upper GI Surgical Group at least once daily, ensuring all aspects of your post-operative care is accounted for

4. Recovery: Recovery time will vary depending on the surgery and your overall health. Most patients can expect to be discharged from the hospital within a few days, but some may need longer stays depending on the seriousness of the conditions and the operation performed.